Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-13
SUBSIDIZING STEAMERS.
THE SENATE VOTES TO APPRO-
PRIATE S5OO,OOO.

Mr.. Morgsn's Free Ship Amendment
the Lines to be Compelled to Run
from a Gulf Port-The Postmaster
General Opposed to Subsidy.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The Senate at
i2 30 o'clock to-day resumed considera-
tion Of the post office appropriation bill,
the question being on the amendment ap-
propriating $500,000 for mails to South
America.
Mr.. Morgan moved to amend the sub
sidy amendment by inserting instead of
the word "built' the words "owned and
oticered," 80 that the sentence will read
''ior the transportation Of foreign mails
by American owned and officered steam
ships" He also moved to add to the
paragraph as follows: "Such steamships
so owned and officered shall be entitled to
be enrolled, registered and licensed as
American built ships while they are en-
ployed in the execution of said contracts
for the transportation of foreign mails"
FREE SHIPS RULED OUT.
After long debate, which drifted into
the question of the tariff and tree trade.
ship amendment, and it was rejected by
10 yeas to 81 nays. as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Beck, Berry. Call. Cockrell,
Coke, EuStis, George, Hampton, Kenna. Nc
phersOn, MaXey, Morgan. Payne, Pugh, Ran
som, Sau sbury, Vance, Walthall and Wilson,
of MarYland.-l9.
NAYs-Messrs. Allison. Blair Bowen, Che
ney. Conser, Cullom, Dawes. Dolph, Evarts,
Fair, Farwell. Frye, German. Hale. Hoar. In
gals, Mcmillan, Malone, Miller. Mite he'll, of
Oregon; Morril, Palmer. Platt. Plumb, Rid
dlel erger, sawyer, sherman, Spooner, Tel
Ter, Williams and Wilson, of Iowa.-9l.
Pairs were announced between Messrs.
Aldrich and Whitthorne, COlquitt and
Chace. Jones Of Arkansas and Harrison,
Harris and Edmunds, Vest and Hawley,
Cameron and Butler, Grav and Van
Wyck, and Henderson and Blackburn.
MUST TOUCH ON THE GULF.
Mr.. Morgan moved TO amend by adding
TO the Senate amendment the words:
"One OF the lines of steamships to carry
the mails provided for in this act shall be
required to sail to and from a seaport OF
the Gulf of Mexico or Mississippi river"
This was agreed TO without division. .
After still further discussion an amend
ment offered by Mr.. Frye was agreed to
without division. 1T makes the commit
tee amendment apply to all South Ameri-
2an ana Central American republics.
TIE subsidy amendment, as amended,
was then adopted by vote of Sc yeas to
Ia nays, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Allison, Blair, Bowen. Call,
Cheney, Conger. Cullom, Dawes, Dolph, Ed
munds, Eustis, Eyarts, Farwell, FRYE, Cor
man, Gray. Hale, Hoar. ingalls,, MCMILLAN.
Malone, Miller, Mitchell Of Oregon, Morgan,
Palmer, Payne, Platt. Plumb, Pugh, Riddle
berger, SAWYER, sherman, Spooner, Teller,
Willia M and Wilson OF Iowa-36.
NANS-Messrs. Beck, Berry, Cockrell, Coke,
(rGnFUp
Maxey, Ransom, salisbury. Walthall and
Wilson of Maryland-4
In addition to the pairs announced on
the preceding vote, pairs were announced
between Messrs. MCPHERSON and Sewell
and Messrs. Vance and Gibson.
The bill was then passed. After a Sc
cret session the Senate adjourned.
TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT.
Following is the text OF the subsidy
amendment to the bill as adopted: For
the transportation of American foreign
mails by American built and registered
steamships, to secure greater frequency
and regularity, in the dispatch, and
greater speed in the carriage of such
mails to Brazil. the Argentine Republic
and the republics OF Uruguay ana Para
quay and other Central and South Ameri-
can republics, $500, 600; and the Postmas-
ter GeneralIis authorized to make, alter
due advertisement for proposals, such
contract or contracts with such
American steamships for term of not
less Than five years, and at "A rate OF COM
pensation not otexceedng for each outward
trip 81 per nautical mile of distance in
the most direct and feasible sailing course
between terminal points as shall be found
eXpedient and desirable to secure the
ends above set forth; but every such con-
tract shall be subject to be modified or an
nuled by act of Congress. One Of the
lines of steamships to carry the mails
provided for in this act snail be required
10 sail TO and from Il seaport of the Gulf OF
Mexico or Mississippi river"
Villas NOT IN FAVOR OF SUBSIDY.
In the course OF the debate on the
amendment Mr.. Beck. who was the chief
opponent OF the amendment, said that
the majority of the Senate committee had
seen MT to assume that the language Of
the Postmaster Generals report was In
accordance with the subsidy amendment,
and therefore he had himself applied to
the Postmaster General on the subject
and mad received letter Which be would
now read to the Senate. The Postmaster
General SAYS In this letter:
FAIR reading of my two reports, one for
1858 and the other for 1855, Will show, unless
am very greatly mistaken, that the only
oDJect or purpose in view in my suggestion in
the last report was to obtain carriage of the
mails TO the South American republics. with
double service TO Brazil, at sucn cheap and
economical figures as would be necessary for
tne purpose. and that no idea of subsidy for
the mere creation Of a line oftrade anu travel
was proposed. There are companies nOml-
nally or actually OF foreign organization,
Whlch believe would compete for TINS SER
vice ana furnish IL at comparatively cheap
ngures. l believe also that il that competi-
uon were admitted an American
company would secure the ser
vice instead OF foreign company. but
~ ialr remuneration, and not as a recipient
oI SUBSIDY. think there is good reason to
expect this result If opportunity be afforded
ior ~. anu That an enlargementOf our postal
Iaclltles may be secured with no vicious
COURSE or subsidy legislation to bring IL about.
~ was IN TINS belief that my suggestion IN the
isst report OF 1885 was made. | cannot an
/ uclpate what may be said, unfairly perhaps in
crlticlsm OF the report or in support of the as
seru0n that the suggestion for this new SER
4 wee Is inconsistent with the position taken in
4 the report OF 1885. ! think al least that see
ulsIlnction, that the distinction itself is
4 vlear ana substantial and that extension OF
tne postal service may be secured usefully
4 ana deslrably without the payment of a dol
lar OF subsidy, but only by giving fair remu-
beginning.
Ihe Constitution Centennial.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The House
M lNaaNa. a. -